County Building Permits
Hill County, TX - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Hill County, Texas. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
All properties in unincorporated Hill County (areas outside incorporated city limits).
- Department
- Hill County Development Services
- Address
- 218 N Waco St, Hillsboro, TX 76645
- Phone
- 254-337-1210; Kathy Smith 254-283-6846; John Crawson 254-283-6862; county floodplain contact Tom Hemrick 254-266-0006
Online Permit Portal
Platform: Hill County ezTask • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Application Process
- First verify the tract is in unincorporated Hill County and not inside a city.
- For OSSF work, obtain the Hill County OSSF permit application from Development Services or the county website.
- Complete the OSSF package with the application fee, soil/site evaluation, planning materials, recorded affidavit to the public, and maintenance contract if required.
- Submit the package to Hill County Development Services at 218 N Waco St, Hillsboro, Texas 76645. The county page states this process is effective January 1, 2026.
- Development Services and/or TCEQ review the application. If approved, an authorization-to-construct permit is issued and is valid for 1 year from the date of issuance.
- The installer must request a construction inspection from Hill County Development Services and keep the excavation/installation site open until inspection is completed and approved.
- If approved, the county states a notice of approval permit/license to operate will be issued to the owner within seven days.
- For development in a mapped floodplain, contact the county floodplain administrator before work. No public countywide general floodplain application packet was identified in the reviewed materials.
Typical processing time: For approved OSSF systems, notice of approval permit/license to operate is issued within seven days after approval; no overall application review estimate found
Source: Hill County Development Services
General Requirements
No public evidence was found of a general unincorporated-county building permit program for all construction. Verified county permit controls are narrower. An OSSF permit is required for covered septic work in the unincorporated county. Floodplain approval should be confirmed for work in flood hazard areas.
Required Documents
- Completed permit application
- Application fee
- Soil/site evaluation results
- Planning materials
- Recorded affidavit to the public
- Maintenance contract (if required)
- Permit validity
- County OSSF authorization to construct is valid for 1 year from the date of issuance.
- Building code
- No public evidence found that Hill County has adopted a general countywide building code requiring standard building permits for all unincorporated construction.
- Owner-builder
- Hill County's public OSSF materials do not publish a local owner-builder summary. Texas state OSSF rules may still allow some homeowner installation in limited circumstances subject to TCEQ rules.
- Contractor requirements
- OSSF materials require site evaluator and installer information and license numbers; state TCEQ licensing remains applicable for OSSF installers.
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- $600.00
- Permit fee formula
- Flat $600.00 OSSF application fee for all systems, per current county OSSF application instructions
- Reinspection fee
- One half of the permit application fee ($300.00) is charged each time the system must be reinspected due to a disapproval
- Payment note
- County states Development Services accepts cash, check, and credit/debit cards; credit card convenience fees apply. OSSF payments can also be made through the county's GovPay link.
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule (effective 2026-01-01).
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Hill County Development Services to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- John Crawson or Kathy Smith, Hill County Development Services (phone)
- Inspection hours
- Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Typical inspection sequence: Submit application and supporting materials, obtain authorization to construct, keep installation open, request construction inspection, then receive notice of approval / license to operate if approved
Additional Resources
- Building code: No public evidence found that Hill County has adopted a general countywide building code requiring standard building permits for all unincorporated construction.
- License lookup guide: Texas Contractor License Requirements
- Contract template: Texas Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
- Texas hub: Texas Contractor License & Permit Hub
Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Hill County Development Services before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Hill County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Hill County, TX?
- No public evidence was found of a general unincorporated-county building permit program for all construction. Verified county permit controls are narrower. An OSSF permit is required for covered septic work in the unincorporated county. Floodplain approval should be confirmed for work in flood hazard areas.
- How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Hill County, TX?
- The minimum permit fee is $600.00. Fees are calculated as: Flat $600.00 OSSF application fee for all systems, per current county OSSF application instructions.
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Hill County, TX?
- 1. First verify the tract is in unincorporated Hill County and not inside a city. 2. For OSSF work, obtain the Hill County OSSF permit application from Development Services or the county website. 3. Complete the OSSF package with the application fee, soil/site evaluation, planning materials, recorded affidavit to the public, and maintenance contract if required. 4. Submit the package to Hill County Development Services at 218 N Waco St, Hillsboro, Texas 76645. The county page states this process is effective January 1, 2026. 5. Development Services and/or TCEQ review the application. If approved, an authorization-to-construct permit is issued and is valid for 1 year from the date of issuance. 6. The installer must request a construction inspection from Hill County Development Services and keep the excavation/installation site open until inspection is completed and approved. 7. If approved, the county states a notice of approval permit/license to operate will be issued to the owner within seven days. 8. For development in a mapped floodplain, contact the county floodplain administrator before work. No public countywide general floodplain application packet was identified in the reviewed materials.
- How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Hill County, TX?
- Typical processing time is For approved OSSF systems, notice of approval permit/license to operate is issued within seven days after approval; no overall application review estimate found.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Hill County, TX?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: John Crawson or Kathy Smith, Hill County Development Services.
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